Whenever a team announces a new logo and/or jersey, there is always a ton of discourse. Debates about whether the new design is better than the old one, and what other ideas the team could have gone with. It is one of the most unique parts of being a sports fan.
However, no one will forget when the Buffalo Sabres released their jersey redesign back in 2006. The "buffaslug" was born and was quickly hated by the fanbase. It has become one of the most infamous logos in NHL history.
What is the story behind the "buffaslug" logo?
At the end of the 2005-06 season, the Sabres were looking for a new identity. They wanted to transition away from their old black-and-red "goathead" jersey into something more modern. With the NHL having just signed a deal with Reebok, it was the perfect time to shake things up. Kristopher Bazen was tasked with creating this logo. He wanted to make something that displayed speed and power, while incorporating the Sabres' traditional blue and gold color scheme.
The result was the buffaslug. Inspired by the Chargers' lightning bolt logo, it showed a mostly yellow buffalo with no legs. Its back was hunched up, creating that slug-like shape. It had a little bit of silver on the bottom of it, where the belly of a bison is. It also had a blue stripe across the side connecting to its red eyes and silver horns. The new jersey also had a twist, with one of them being navy blue with hints of gold and the other being white with hints of gold.
When the logo was revealed to the public, it was immediately met with hate. Message boards were filled with people talking about how ugly the logo is. There were memes of it being Barney Rubble's hair or someone killing it with salt. There was even an online petition started by Drew Celestino called Fixthelogo.com, which saw 30,000 people sign it. Even former players were against it. Dominik Hasek said he was shocked and that he could not believe that is what they decided to go with.
But while the "buffaslug" was ugly, the Sabres' play on the ice was anything but. In their inaugural season with the new design, they went 53-22-7, good for 113 points and the Presidents' Trophy. It is the most wins and tied for the most points they have put up in a season. They also made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season. It is arguably the best season in franchise history. In their last season in the jerseys, they returned to the playoffs but lost in the quarterfinals.
The "buffaslug" will always have a spot in Sabres history. It created so much backlash and hatred that few will forget. But it also was there during some of the best days in the organization's history. This makes its legacy very complicated.
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